Birth Mothers and the Church

In the United States, families seeking to adopt outnumber available babies by approximately 50 to 1. This imbalance often leads to aggressive, sometimes exploitative practices toward mothers in crisis by an adoption industry swamped with misinformation. Furthermore, churches are often at the forefront of promoting and facilitating adoptions, with an abundance of money and resources changing hands that could otherwise be used to help these mothers in need. Those in the church who promote adoption tend to portray birth mothers who relinquish as making the brave, loving, selfless choice. But what do birth mothers have to say to the church? Today, we talk to three birth mothers, members of the Faith Collective for Truth and Healing in Adoption who grew up and remain Christian, about the complexities of their experiences—of shame, grief, loss, reunion, faith, and how they believe churches can better care for struggling mothers. 

Amber Jimerson is a birth mom of a young-adult son in a semi-open adoption, a psychology student, and a preacher’s wife. She is a former board member of the National Association of Adoptees and Parents, where she facilitated the First Families Support Group for two years. Currently, she facilitates the Knee-to-Knee in-person support group for birth moms in central Indiana, hosted by Adoptions of Indiana. Both she and her husband, who preaches at the Brownsburg Church of Christ, are also artists and parent their four children together.

Beka Overby is a birth mom currently in reunion with her first son who she placed in a semi-open, private adoption after finding herself pregnant at 16. After attending Multnomah Bible College in Portland, Oregon and then studying pastoral counseling in Sydney, Australia, Beka began working in full-time ministry. Both she and her husband, Seth, currently minister at New Hope Church in Portland, Oregon. Beka and Seth parent three boys together and enjoy spending time outdoors in the beautiful Pacific Northwest.

Mellisa Lathion has been a birth mom for the past 25 years and has been working in healthcare for the past 14 years. She is in reunion with her birth son, who she placed in a semi-open adoption in 1999. Mellisa is passionate about sharing her story and providing evidence-based education to empower others in order to improve the care of those impacted by adoption. Mellisa has her MSN in Nursing Education and works as a Nurse Educator and Lactation Coordinator. She is certified in Maternal Newborn Nursing and Respectful Equitable Care. Mellisa is married to her husband of 15 years and together they have a son and daughter.